At a recent International Antiquarian Book Fair held at the Park Avenue Armory in Manhattan, a rare artifact surfaced that offers a unique, firsthand glimpse into one of the most significant events of World War II: the atomic bombing of Hiroshima. The item, a navigation logbook belonging to Robert A. Lewis, co-pilot of the Enola Gay, chronicled the moments leading up to and following the deployment of the first atomic bomb used in warfare on August 6, 1945.
The logbook, displayed by Whitmore Rare Books of Pasadena, California, contains handwritten notes by Captain Lewis, whose entries document the six-hour flight from the Pacific island of Tinian to the Japanese city of Hiroshima and back. The vivid descriptions include observations of the bomb’s detonation, which Lewis described as "the greatest explosion man has ever witnessed," alongside the crew’s profound sense of shock and the grim realization of the mission’s devastating consequences.
Significantly, the logbook also bears annotations made by William L. Laurence, a prominent science reporter from The New York Times. Laurence, who was embedded with the Manhattan Project under direct orders from Lt. Gen. Leslie R. Groves, accompanied the bombing mission to Nagasaki three days after Hiroshima. Known as “Atomic Bill,” Laurence was granted rare access to the secretive project and won two Pulitzer Prizes for his reporting on the atomic bombings.
Laurence’s involvement with the logbook reflects his complex legacy. According to the log’s edits, he altered Captain Lewis’s original wording regarding his own presence on the Hiroshima mission—crossing out the co-pilot’s note that he had not been permitted aboard, and replacing it with a claim that Laurence had been ordered on the mission but arrived too late to participate. This discrepancy is believed to stem from military restrictions, as some reports suggest General Groves vetoed Laurence’s inclusion on the Hiroshima flight.
Beyond his reporting, Laurence’s relationship with the military and government raised questions in later years. He was paid for his work on the Manhattan Project and produced articles downplaying the hazards of atomic radiation. After the war, he also engaged in promotional work unrelated to journalism, including assisting in the marketing of the 1964 World’s Fair.
The Enola Gay logbook passed through several hands following the war. Captain Lewis, who later managed a candy company in New Jersey, sold the diary at auction in 1971 for $37,000, far less than its current estimated value. Following acquisitions by Malcolm Forbes in the late 1970s and subsequent sales, the logbook last appeared on the market in 2022 with an asking price nearing $1 million.
The diary not only offers a rare primary source account of the atomic bombing but also underscores the moral ambiguities faced by those involved. Amid the detailed flight records and technical observations lies Lewis’s candid reflection: “My God, what have we done.” The document remains a poignant testament to the unprecedented destructive power unleashed over Hiroshima and the complex narratives surrounding its history.